PRJUSD Faced With Tough Decisions in Face of Budget Shortfall
January 12, 2010
Last Wednesday, school administrators from the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District [PRJUSD] released a draft list of potential budget cuts that could go into effect as soon as next month if approved by the district’s Feb. 1 deadline.
Issuing the list of recommended cost-saving measures represented the district’s first step in starting a decision-making process that district officials said would involve the entire school community.
Possible scenarios include eliminating and/or reducing school programs and jobs. According to PRJUSD Superintendent Dr. Kathleen McNamara, the decisions will be made this month, and the completion date for the final plan is slated for Monday, Feb. 1.
District officials estimate the year’s 2009-10 budget shortfall to be $2.4 million. The district is aiming to eliminate a minimum of $ 7.4 million over the next 18 months. According to PRJUSD officials, the proposed budget cuts are necessary to maintain the district’s fiscal solvency in the face of high reductions in revenues.
"The district cannot do business as usual," McNamara said. "It needs to reduce its budget substantially during the coming months. However, we can’t forget why we’re in business. Balancing fiscal and academic solvency is the true measure of success. It is possible not to choose to do less with less, but to chose to do differently with less and get more."
Unions representing the classified staff and teachers have already led initial meetings. During the meetings, budget reduction measures requiring negotiations under collective bargaining agreements, such as furloughs and pay reductions, were discussed. District officials targeted Friday, Jan. 15 as the deadline for union members to make decisions to be brought to the negotiation table.
The district has experienced a reduction in revenue of more than 18 percent in its unrestricted General Fund and almost 20 percent in categorical funding programs in the last three budget years, according to a district press release. In addition, schools are primarily funded through attendance and the district is now in declining enrollment. One-time revenue sources, such as the federal stimulus funds to help balance the current budget, will not be available in the future.
The problem at the state level appears to showing few bright spots.
It is anticipated by the district that state revenues will continue to decrease in the wake of the state budget deficit.
According to Paso Robles Public Schools Board of Trustees President Robert Simola, Ph.D., times aren’t just hard – they are the worst he’s ever experienced.
"I was a teac her for most of my adult life, and it’s the hardest time for education that I have ever seen," he said. "We’ve had to cut some absolutely wonderful programs that in some cases made the difference between students being in school and dropping out – between getting a first-class education and just lumping along."
Simola said that public schools across California are suffering, and Paso Robles is no exception. Approximately three months ago, the former teacher said he anticipated next year’s budget would have to be cut by around $3 million.